You'd better be good - the elves are watching

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No, really, they are - from their berths at the Central Wisconsin Cultural Center in Wisconsin Rapids. Accompanied only by the hum of the motors that keep them moving, the five elves hammer, saw, paint, drill and plane to fill requests on Santa's list.

Known as the "Johnson Hill's Elves," the animated elves bring back many memories to residents who grew up in Wisconsin Rapids.

The elves - estimated to have debuted at the department store in the 1940s or 1950s - kept busy for years in the Johnson & Hill store windows, 320 W. Grand Ave., Wisconsin Rapids, during the holidays before disappearing. The store opened in 1912 and was sold to Kline's in the late 1980s.

"We always made it a point to go and see them," said Paula Klevene, 56, Nekoosa. "We sat and stared at them for the longest time; they were so unique."

"It makes me think of my grandmother," Klevene said.

It was Klevene's husband, Mark, who helped Bonnie Dhein of Wisconsin Rapids find the elves after many years of unknown locations, Dhein said.

"I had asked everyone that I knew if they knew what happened to the Johnson Hills elves," Dhein, 57, said.

The exact history of the elves is a bit vague. It's hoped that more visibility will generate facts about their travels through the years, said Phil Brown of the South Wood County Historical Society, which now owns the elves.

Mary Beth Rokus, Lynn Wiggins, Gerald Bach and Gary Rosencrans, as part of the City Centre Committee and downtown development cluster brought the elves out of "retirement," said Gerald Bach of Wisconsin Rapids.

"Then the downtown groups kind of disbanded and they were donated to the (South Wood County) museum," Bach said.

About five years ago, the elves were in the storefront windows on the corner of East Grand Avenue and Second Street South (now Infitech).

Last year, the elves moved to RoomPro Technologies (now the Trading Post) on West Grand Avenue.

The five elves have been at the Cultural Center during this year's Berries & Baubles exhibit, Dhein said, where they have helped stir up many memories for visitors to the exhibit.

Dhein recalled the downtown holiday window display.

"(German's Jewelers) did their windows and then we ran up to Johnson Hill's to look at the elves," Dhein said.

Bach and Jack Wesley, who did some repair work on the quintet, will move the elves to their next Wisconsin Rapids home, From the Ground Up on Dec. 1, where they will remain through the holiday season, according to coffee shop owner, Bob Schultz.

As for what the elves do when the lights are turned off and all is quiet? Well, Dhein claims they rest, because they work so hard during the day.

Personally, I think they might just be off reporting to the big guy at the North Pole. And, since I prefer to not have any coal in my stocking this year ? as the saying goes, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Anyone with information about the elves can contact Lori Brost at the South Wood County Historical Museum, lori@swch-museum.com or 715-423-1580. Send your Out There ideas to deb.cleworth@cwnews.net.

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You'd better be good - the elves are watching

Santa's elves are watching. No, really, they are ? from their berths at the Central Wisconsin Cultural Center in Wisconsin Rapids.

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